The 200 Watt Workingman's 2004 is the upgraded version of the original Workingman's rack mountable amplifier (the Workingman's 160). The Workingman's 2004 comes mounted in its own carpeted rack that includes an open rack space for the effects unit of your choice.

Note: This amplifier is practically identical to the amplifier section of the Workingman’s 15 combo amp.

Q: The serial number of my Workingman’s 2004 is WMT02014021. Can you tell me how old it is?

A: The first 3 letters of the serial number are a model code (WMT = Workingman’s 2004), followed by a date code (0201 = built 01/02), followed by the number in the series (4021 = #4021). Some earlier Workingman’s 2004’s had a small sticker on the chassis with a date code in the corner.

Q: What is the difference between Workingman’s Series amplifiers and Professional Series amplifiers?

A: The main difference is that the Workingman’s Series has a solid-state preamp, while the Professional Series has a tube preamp. Aside from that, the preamps in both series are nearly identical.

Q: What is the Aural Enhancer, and what does it do?

A: The Aural Enhancer is a feature that's been on just about every SWR amplifier since the company's inception in 1984, and is a trademark part of the "SWR Sound" people have come to know and love. It was developed to help bring out the fundamental low notes of the bass guitar, enhance the high-end transients, and reduce certain frequencies that help "mask" the fundamentals. The ultimate result is:

A more transparent sound, especially noticeable when slapping and popping.

It can make a passive bass take on an "active" type of quality when set at positions of "2 o'clock" or further clockwise.

Let's take a second to learn how the Aural Enhancer works. Think of it as a variable tone curve that changes depending on where you set the Aural Enhancer control knob. As you raise the control clockwise from the "MIN" position, you are elevating a whole range of sound (lows, mids, and highs) at a variety of frequency points selected specifically because they're different than those selected for the individual Tone Controls.

This remains true up to about the "2 o'clock" position. This position—a favorite for many users—brings out both the low end fundamentals and crisp highs and, at the same time, adds a little lower midrange to help cut through the band. However, if you go further clockwise and past the 2:00 position, selected mids will start to drop off—specifically, a group of frequencies centered around 200 Hz. At this point and after, the effect becomes much more pronounced. However, the curves involved here are gentle, as opposed to the very extreme curves you can create by boosting or cutting the Active Tone Controls (EQ).

Most significantly for basses, the Aural Enhancer will help bring out the fundamentals of your lower registers without masking them with overtones, as is possible when using the Bass control only. At the same time, it opens up the sibilance characteristics of all instruments without being harsh.

Q: What’s the difference between Treble and Transparency?

A: Generally, on SWR amplifiers, the Treble control is centered around 2kHz, while the Transparency is centered around 5kHz. In layman’s terms, the Transparency boosts only the super-high frequencies, while Treble boosts a wider range of high-end frequencies.

Q: Is my Workingman’s 2004 capable of driving a 2 ohm load?

A: No. The minimum impedance that the Workingman’s 2004 is designed to drive is 4 ohms.

Q: Can I run my Workingman’s 2004 without any speaker cabinets hooked up?

A: Yes. The Workingman’s 2004 can be used for recording purposes using only the XLR record out and without speakers attached to the speaker jacks.

Q: Can I use my Workingman’s 2004 to drive both a 4 ohm and an 8 ohm cabinet at the same time?

A: No. This would be below the total minimum operating impedance of 4 ohms. SWR recommends two 8 ohm cabinets for multi-cabinet configurations with Workingman’s Series amplifiers.

Q: How can I get the most volume out of my Workingman’s 2004 without damaging my speaker system?

A: After all tone controls and the Limiter are set to your liking, the Gain Control should be set to where the Preamp Clip LED barely flashes upon striking your loudest note. Then adjust the Master Volume to the desired volume level. Utilizing these controls in this manner assures the user of maximum signal to noise ratio with no distortion caused by the preamp circuits "clipping".

Q: Can I connect the XLR Output of my amplifier to a phantom power equipped mixing console?

Q: I want to use my Workingman’s 2004 while on tour in a different country. Are there any precautions involved?

A: If you want the voltage of your amplifier changed permanently, as in the event of a relocation or long term move, we recommend that you have a replacement power transformer installed in the unit's chassis. This modification can be made at any authorized SWR service center. If it will be a temporary situation (such as a European tour), in which you require the amplifier to run on a voltage other than 120 volts for a short period of time, we recommend the use of an external voltage converter (or step up/down transformer). Voltage converters are available from your local or online electronics retailer and are offered in various wattage capacities, generally ranging from 100 to 10,000 watts. It is important that the capacity of the voltage converter be equal or greater than the current draw of the amplifier. On SWR amplifiers, the current draw specification is generally listed below the AC cord receptacle on the amplifier's rear panel. Depending on the model, it may also be necessary to change the amplifier's line fuse. Please consult your amplifier's owner's manual for the correct fuse rating.